Claims for Patent: 5,849,720

Summary for Patent: 5,849,720

Title:	Enhancement of non-specific immune defenses by administration of underivatized, aqueous soluble glucans
Abstract:	A method for producing soluble preparations of neutral glucan polymers is disclosed. The method involves treating whole glucan particles with a unique sequence of acid and alkaline treatments to produce soluble glucan. The soluble glucan can be purified to obtain a physiologically acceptable solution of neutral glucan molecules. A soluble neutral glucan preparation is obtained which forms a clear solution at a neutral pH and is equilibrated in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
Inventor(s):	Jamas; Spiros (Boston, MA), Easson, Jr.; D. Davidson (Shrewsbury, MA), Ostroff; Gary R. (Worcester, MA)
Assignee:	Alpha-Beta Technology, Inc. (Worcester, MA)
Application Number:	08/400,488
Patent Claims:	1. A method of treating an immunocompromised human or animal comprising administering to said human or animal an amount of an underivatized, aqueous soluble yeast .beta.(1-3) glucan sufficient to enhance the non-specific defenses of mononuclear cells or macrophages or both in said animal or human, wherein the underivatized, aqueous soluble yeast .beta.(1-3) glucan is produced by a process comprising the steps of: a) contacting a suspension of aqueous insoluble .beta.(1-3) glucan derived from yeast with an organic acid to solubilize said glucan thereby forming an acid-soluble and acid-insoluble glucan mixture; b) contacting the acid-soluble portion of the glucans with an alkali solution to dissolve the alkali-soluble glucan; c) removing alkali-insoluble glucans from the solution of step (b); d) neutralizing the solution containing the alkali-soluble glucan of step (c); and e) isolating an aqueous soluble .beta.(1-3) glucan by size fractionation to produce a .beta.(1-3) glucan that is suitable for parenteral administration, thereby treating said immunocompromised human or animal by enhancing the non-specific defenses of mononuclear cells or macrophages or both. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the yeast is a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the soluble yeast .beta.(1-3) glucan is administered parenterally, topically, orally or intranasally. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the soluble yeast .beta.(1-3) glucan is contained in a physiologically acceptable medium. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the physiologically acceptable medium is selected from the group consisting of sterile water, phosphate-buffered saline, isotonic saline and dextrose. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising purifying the aqueous soluble yeast .beta.(1-3) glucan by size fractionation or diafiltration with a physiologically acceptable medium. 7. A method of claim 2, wherein the strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is strain R4 (NRRL accession number Y-15903). 8. A method of treating an immunocompromised human or animal comprising administering to said human or animal an amount of an underivatized, aqueous soluble yeast .beta.(1-3) glucan sufficient to enhance the non-specific defenses of mononuclear cells or macrophages or both in said animal or human, thereby treating said immunocompromised human or animal by enhancing the non-specific defenses of mononuclear cells or macrophages or both. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the yeast is a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 10. A method of claim 9, wherein the strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is strain R4 (NRRL accession number Y-15903).

Details for Patent 5,849,720

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	ZOSTAVAX	zoster vaccine live	For Injection	125123	05/25/2006		2015-12-15